What does Jane Austen tell us about the way she views marriage in her society in 'Pride and Prejudice'?

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Introduction

Pride and Prejudice What does Jane Austen tell us about the way she views marriage in her society in 'Pride and Prejudice'? A ) Pride and Prejudice is a novel that is about wealth and love and status. Jane Austen, the author of pride and prejudice is seen by many as one of the most significant writers of the century. This is because the uses of her direct speech and her fantastic use of English literature love and marriage. In the novel Pride and Prejudice, the author confronts us with a number of marriages. There are relationships happening between quite a few people at once in the novel. The author uses Elizabeth and Darcy to use as framework to portray various marriages. Jane Austen opens the novel with "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want if a wife". ...read more.

Middle

I think that Elizabeths views on marriage are that it is about happiness and love rather than social status and wealth. I get this impression because she did not want to marry Mr.Collins even thought her mother (Mrs.Bennet) was trying hard to persuade her. Mr.Collins is the soon to be rightful owner of the house they are living in. Her mother wants her to marry Mr.Collins so it will ensure security for the future and the family will not lose their social rank or class. Mrs. Bennett (the mother of 5 daughters) is quite an interesting character in the novel. She and her fiends (Mrs. Long , Mrs. Philips and lady Lucas) spend most of their time looking for newcomers to the neighborhood. Mrs.Bennet is eager to find a wealthy partner for her daughter's so that the family will be financially supported and will not become poor. This shows in the novel when she quotes "it is very likely that he ( Bingley) ...read more.

Conclusion

Mr. Bennet seems to have a quiet deep love for his daughters while, on the contrary, Mrs. Bennet's love is over-acted and conditional. Both parents help to shape their daughters' characteristics and beliefs: Lydia reflecting Mrs. Bennet's flighty and excessive behavior while Elizabeth inherits Mr.Bennet's thoughtful and reflective personality. This relationship between Mr. and Mrs.Bennet is unsatisfactory because Mr.Bennet is not as wealthy and can not offer a secure high social class rank that can support a family that Mrs.Bennet wants. The relationship between Mr. Collins And Charlotte is pretty much financial. Charlotte is dealing with her life in a way that makes sense to her. Mr. Collins was not a wicked man, and I therefore doubt if "contemptible" is the word Charlotte would use for him, nor would she feel it wrong to marry a man because he was merely foolish. I believe that charlotte is not marrying Mr. Collins for love but for a safe and secure future. I think that this is unsatisfactory because she might not be happy with Mr. Collins even though he has got a lot to offer her. ...read more.

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